Lost in translation: Foreign students run into language barrier at MSU

Even though the M S University has admitted around 40 foreign students this academic year, many of them are finding it difficult to overcome the language barrier.

University authorities may start crash course in Hindi for them from next year

Even though the M S University MSU has admitted around 40 foreign students this academic year, many of them are finding it difficult to overcome the language barrier. However, the MSU authorities have been quick to act upon this, with the foreign students advisor now proposing the idea of running a crash course in Hindi language from next year.

Speaking to Newsline, Asri from Jaca city in Indonesia, who has taken admission in MSU Performing Arts after obtaining a scholarship from the Indonesia-based Indian Culture Central Relation ICCR, said, 8220;I took admission in MSU because I like the teaching procedures here. Though I had earlier got admission in the Delhi-based Shri Ram Music Institute, I opted to learn the Sitar from here. But for the last two months, I have been facing problems in understating some of the notes in Hindustani Classical Music and in the study of ragas. Though there are some Nepalese students who help me with my Hindi, it is not of much help.8221;

A few days ago, Asri, and a US student, Williams, met advisor of foreign students, Sharad Bansal, and apprised him about communication problems being faced by them.

Williams, who is learning music here said, 8220;I have been learning Hindustani Classical Music for the last four years from my tutor based in Anand. Initially, I did face some problems in understanding the ragas, but now there has been some improvement.8221;

Speaking about the communication problems faced by the students from abroad, Bansal said, 8221; I have spoken to the Dean of Performing Arts Ishwarchand Pandit about this. We have come up with a temporary solution wherein we have asked teachers from the Hindi department, who can understand both Hindi and English, to explain the musical notes to the students in Hindi.8221;

He added, 8220;This is the first time that students of Performing Arts have approached us with problems in understanding Hindi language. But there are also some students from Jordan who understand neither Hindi nor English. And, these students have made their own arrangement for learning English but since Hindi is still a problem, we are planning to start a crash course in Hindi for them.8221;